Oxygen isotope analysis was carried out on a oyster (Crassostrea gigas) from the neolithic age Gagok-ri shell midden site, Dangjin, Korea to determine the seasonality of shellfish gathering and site occupation. Isotope samples were taken from the hinge section of the left valve of the oyster. The isotope values of the shell range from -2.02‰ to -6.05‰ vs PDB. The isotope profile shows a seasonal temperature cycle, providing information related to seasonality of shellfish gathering. The isotope values towards the edge of the hinge are gradually increasing, suggesting progressively cooling and a fall period of shell gathering and site occupation. The result shows that the oxygen isotope analysis using oyster shell hinges can be used for archaeological seasonality studies.
